Starting Over in Maple Bay by Brittney Joy
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
By the time Jesse had backed his truck up to the horse trailer, Creed was pulling up to the barn. He threw his rusty Chevy truck into park and jumped out, looking ready to start a fight. To anyone that didn’t know him, Creed in that state of mind would be intimidating. He was a big guy and a natural athlete, though he’d always chased the adrenaline of rodeo over the organization of team sports. He liked to walk a tight line between brave and crazy. Though to Jesse, Creed had been a loyal and devoted friend since they met in high school.
“Took the cops long enough to catch those guys,” Creed announced as he met Jesse at the trailer hitch. He threw a few lariat ropes in the truck bed.
“I guess they caught them after they stole two more horses from some barn in Iowa. Took the horses right out of their pasture last night.” Jesse cranked the jack, lowering the trailer onto the hitch. When it eased onto the ball, Creed reached down to snap on the safety chains and plug in the electrical. They’d hooked up a trailer together about a million times and didn’t have to talk to do so.
Creed was a year younger than Jesse and moved to Maple Bay to live with his dad when he was fourteen. He had a rough past and a nonexistent family life. His freshman year of high school, Jesse’s dad hired Creed to help around the barn. Over the years, Creed had become like another brother, an honorary member of the Weston family.
Creed cussed. “If I get my hands on them—”
“I know,” Jesse replied. Creed hadn’t finished his threat, but Jesse knew what he meant. Jesse felt the same.
This past spring, a handful of shady guys showed up at a local rodeo. No one knew them. They claimed they were from Texas, looking to buy some young roping prospects, but they stalked around the grounds and a few saddles went missing. Not long after, a barn just outside of Turtle Lake was broken into and two horses were stolen. Those horses had been at that rodeo. Since then, the same thing had happened at a horse show in Iowa and two rodeos in South Dakota.
“They were right under our noses,” Jesse added. “Had been using an abandoned barn outside of Elm Grove to stash the horses until they could offload them. Got sloppy though. Took a few horses to an auction just south of Minneapolis, and the Appaloosas were recognized. The cops came before the scumbags could disappear. One squealed the location of the barn they’d been using. Apparently, there are about ten horses that were seized and need to be picked up. Left the horses with no food or water.” Jesse’s stomach twisted at the thought.
“They were stealing horses?” Hazel asked. She’d been standing on the far side of the truck near the passenger door, quiet as a mouse.
Creed stood up at her voice, nearly hitting his head on the truck’s bumper.
Jesse stuck the pin in the hitch, making sure it was secure, and stood. “Creed, this is Hazel.”
Creed and Hazel looked at each other over the truck bed, and recognition slid over Creed’s face. “Hazel? The lucky lady you wooed with pizza and a movie?”
Creed asked the question like he knew way more than he did. Jesse hadn’t said a word to Creed about his evening with Hazel, but that was the thing about a small town. You couldn’t keep much from anyone. Especially if you made an appearance on main street.
“There was no wooing, Creed.” Jesse slapped Creed on the shoulder a little harder than normal as he passed. “Hazel just moved here. Was showing her the town and taking the girls out for the evening. She has a daughter too.”
Creed ran a hand through his blonde hair, pushing it from his face. “I’ll have a talk with him,” he said to Hazel. “He’s a little rusty. Next time he’ll take you on a real date. I’ll make sure of it.”
Jesse opened the driver side door and shot a look at Creed. He pointed at the back door and said, “Let’s go.”
Creed gave a shrug like he was only trying to help, and then followed Jesse’s pointing finger. He opened the backdoor and whispered to Jesse, “What? It’s been forever since you’ve been on a date. And she’s really cute.”
Creed gave Jesse a sly grin as he slid onto the bench seat and shut the door. Jesse knew his friend was just trying to get him back in the game, as Creed had said many times before. They’d been each other’s wingmen in their younger, carefree years. But those years seemed like a lifetime ago.
Jesse jumped in the truck and hoped Hazel hadn’t heard any more of Creed’s helpfulness, but when she climbed into the passenger seat, Hazel didn’t meet Jesse’s eye. He wasn’t sure if that had to do with Creed’s comments or whatever she’d discovered in the boxes in the carriage house. Hazel’s questions about Charlie had surprised him, and he didn’t understand what could’ve upset her that much.
Putting the truck in drive, Jesse eased it forward and focused on the task at hand—not the hurt he’d witnessed on Hazel’s face.
“Yes, they were stealing horses,” Jesse answered Hazel’s original question. “They were making quick money by stealing horses and taking them out of state to sell them. Probably down south. Good thing they got lazy and took the latest to a sale just south of Minneapolis. Otherwise, who knows how long this could’ve gone on.”
“And they abandoned the rest of the horses at the barn we’re going to? With no food or water?” Concern grabbed at Hazel’s voice and Jesse glanced at her as he drove down the driveway. Worry for the animals had bypassed whatever she’d been upset about.
“They sure did,” Creed answered from the backseat. His tone had gone from teasing to seething.
Jesse saw Frankie’s truck and trailer on the road ahead, past his parents’ house. Frankie was driving and Garrett was with her. She’d pulled over to wait for Jesse.
“The cops got ahold of the rescue group Frankie works with. That’s who called. We’ll pick the horses up and bring them back to Frankie’s until their homes are located. Between my trailer and Frankie’s, we should be able to get them all.”
Frankie had a big stock trailer that could hold six horses. The trailer that Evan and Jesse shared could haul four. “My brother, Evan, is going to meet us there. He was in Elm Grove, picking up some fencing.”
It was only a half-hour drive to the abandoned barn, but the trip felt longer. When they finally turned off a bumpy road to follow Frankie’s truck and a cop car through a grassy field, Jesse gripped the steering wheel tight. There was no barn. On the edge of the field, butted up to woods, there was a dilapidated house that looked like it was built well over a century ago. Windows were boarded up or busted. The front porch was caved in. Roof shingles flapped in the warm afternoon wind.
Near the house there were a few small outbuildings, but nothing a horse should be kept in. Hazel and Creed leaned forward at the same time.
Hazel put her hands on the dash. “The horses are in that house?”
There was another cop car parked near the busted front porch. Evan’s truck was next to it.
“Looks like it.” Anger bubbled inside Jesse and he hadn’t even seen the state of the animals yet. He only hoped the horses were still in decent shape. He reminded himself that the thieves intended to sell the horses and couldn’t get good money for injured animals. And that’s what those scumbags cared about after all—the money.
Jesse parked next to Frankie’s rig, and everyone exited the vehicles.
Evan greeted Jesse with a solemn expression. “I went inside. The vet is on his way.”
From the look on his brother’s face, Jesse knew the situation they were about to encounter was not good.
“How many?” Jesse asked.
“Eight,” Evan said.
Frankie pulled a duffle bag from the bed of her truck, unzipped it and handed out eight halters and lead ropes, though she didn’t give one to Hazel. Jesse wished Hazel had stayed back with the kids. She didn’t need to see this. Furthermore, she didn’t have any experience with horses and couldn’t jump in to handle scared, injured animals.
Jesse turned to Hazel, deciding on the safest job he could give her. “There’s a full water tank in the tack room of my horse trailer. Buckets too. Can you fill them? Once we get the horses out, we’ll need to see if they will drink.”
Hazel gave a nod and headed toward the trailer.
The two officers showed the rest of them to the back of the house where there was a cracked, dented door.
“Animal control just left Minneapolis but won’t be here for another few hours,” one officer said. “Didn’t want the horses in this mess any longer than they had to be. Thanks for coming so fast.”
Frankie walked toward the banged-up door like she’d carry the horses out if she had to. “Let’s get them out.”
Jesse and Evan were close behind her. Frankie creaked open the dented door and shined a wedge of sunlight into the dark house. Jesse’s heart sank as silhouettes came into view. The horses closest to the door sprung back in a clatter of hooves. A few were lying down. The bitter scent of urine assaulted Jesse’s nose. Frankie coughed, catching the pungent smell as well.
Jesse put his hand on Frankie’s shoulder and stopped her from going inside. “Let me and Evan go first. We’ll hand them out as we get them haltered. Don’t want to scare them any more than they already are.”
Frankie stepped back, agreeing with his plan, and Jesse slid through the door. Evan was behind him.
“Easy, babies,” Jesse whispered in his calmest tone. Wide, white-rimmed eyes stared back at him. A horse in the back snorted. “We’re here to help.”
Jesse guessed the horses were well-trained performance horses. The thieves had been strategic in their targets, picking out their victims at rodeos and horse shows and then coming for them days later, in the cover of night. This wasn’t a pack of wild mustangs. If Jesse could show these horses that they weren’t in danger, he and Evan should be able to halter and handle them.
Jesse eyed the horse closest to him—a petite Palomino with a gash across its chest. Despite the dark, dried blood on its golden coat, the Palomino eyed Jesse curiously.
“How’d you get that cut?” Jesse asked, like the horse might tell him. It was anyone’s guess what had caused the injury considering the horse was standing in a kitchen. Cabinet doors hung off broken hinges. A few busted appliances were scattered across cracked tile. “Are you going to be the bravest of the bunch? The leader?”
Jesse slowly pulled the halter off his shoulder where it hung and stepped toward the Palomino, proceeding with caution. He moved slowly, but sensed that the horse wanted to trust him. When he was a step away and the horse hadn’t retreated, Jesse guided the halter over the Palomino’s nose and buckled it behind his ears. The little Palomino sighed, like he knew he was one step closer to safety. He followed Jesse without hesitation to the door. When Jesse handed the lead over to Frankie, Evan was able to halter a stocky black Quarter Horse that seemed to be attached to the Palomino. The black horse followed the Palomino to the door.
After the first two horses were outside, the rest of the horses perked up. They jostled nervously, not wanting to be left behind. Jesse and Evan made quick work of catching horses and handing them off to Frankie, Garrett, Creed, and the officers, until only the worse-off of the bunch was left. A lanky chestnut hobbled on three legs. A dark bay mare was laying on the soiled carpet. She hadn’t gotten up yet, was sweating, and Jesse had seen her nip at her stomach multiple times since he’d been in the house.
“Probably colic,” Jesse said to Evan. His brother agreed with a sympathetic grunt. “Who knows how long these horses have been without food or water.”
There were a few buckets, but they were tipped over and empty. Frankly, Jesse was surprised all the horses weren’t in the same state as the mare on the ground.
Jesse called for Frankie and asked her to get banamine from his trailer. It was a medication Jesse could give the horse to ease her pain and hopefully remedy the issue. Frankie showed up at the door with something better than the drug.
“Dr. Shiner is here,” Frankie announced, and stepped through the door with the veterinarian. “Garrett and I can help the doctor with these two. Can you guys get the rest of the horses loaded?”
Jesse bent down and ran a hand over the bay mare’s black mane and whispered, “Everything is going to be okay. Don’t give up. We’ll get you home.” Then he left the two horses in the hands of the vet.
Outside the house, the officers and Creed each held a horse. The other three had been loaded into Frankie’s trailer. Creed was attempting to load the big black Quarter Horse who, for whatever reason, didn’t want to get in the trailer. The horse danced from side to side, going every which way but into the metal box on wheels. Jesse didn’t blame him. The horse didn’t know where these strangers were going to take him next.
Someone put a hand on Jesse’s arm.
“Only a few drank water,” Hazel said, releasing her hand.
“We’ve got a short ride home,” Jesse reassured her. “Hopefully they’ll be more comfortable there and will drink then.”
Suddenly, the black horse reared into the air and pulled Creed out of the trailer. Jesse instinctively threw an arm across Hazel and moved her back from the activity.
Hazel gasped. “What can I do?”
“Probably best if you stayed back.” Jesse could tell she wanted to help, but didn’t want her getting hurt.
Hazel went to stand next to one of the outbuildings, and Jesse joined Creed at the trailer to help coax the black horse in. It took another ten minutes and a few more tantrums, but the horse finally conceded and joined the others. As Creed pushed the swinging divider into place and secured the horse, Jesse went to take the lead of the next horse from one of the officers. His hand stopped in midair when he heard his name.
Hazel screamed for Jesse, but when he whipped around, she was nowhere to be found.
“Jesse!” she called again from somewhere behind the outbuilding. Jesse ran, following her voice.
What was happening? Where was she? And why did Hazel sound like she was hurt?
He sprinted toward the tin shed and skated around the corner, kicking up dust as he went. On the backside of the shed, he found Hazel. She was running toward a man dragging a young sorrel horse along by its halter. The man had a lead that was attached to the horse’s halter, and ended in a silver chain that wrapped over the horse’s nose. The horse was frantically trying to get away from him.
“Hazel, stop!” Jesse shouted as Hazel quickly covered ground and jumped on the man’s back. She wrapped her arms around the man’s neck, and from the pained sound he made, she did something to seriously hurt him. The man swore and released the horse, focusing instead on Hazel. He grabbed at her arms and spun until Hazel flew off his back and through the air. Her red hair was like a ribbon in the wind until she hit the ground and rolled.
Jesse reached the man just as he lurched toward the horse again.
“Hey!” Jesse shouted, gaining the man’s attention and giving him just enough time to see Jesse’s fist before it hit his face.
Jesse’s knuckles collided with the crook’s nose and succeeded in sending the man toppling to his back. He met the man on the ground and landed another punch before they proceeded to tumble across the grass, fighting for leverage. As they wrestled, Jesse threw a knee on top of the scoundrel’s chest. He pinned him to the ground, but the man continued to fight. He kicked and flailed, and Jesse was relieved when he heard the familiar sound of a thrown rope.
A lariat whistled through the wind and then snapped. The man stiffened, and Jesse knew exactly what had happened. Sneaking a look over his shoulder, Jesse saw that Creed had roped the crook’s booted feet and held the rope tight with gloved hands.
“Yeehaw!” Creed yelled from a distance like he’d just roped a calf. “Got’em, Jesse!”
An officer raced past Creed, his gun drawn.
Jesse stared down at the crook. “I don’t know where you’re from, but around here we don’t take kindly to thieves or anyone that would dare lay a hand on a woman. Now you get to join your lowlife friends in prison.” He stood when the man raised his hands in surrender.
“Keep your hands up! Roll onto your belly!” the officer instructed as he got close. The man did as he was told, rolling over like a sausage in a skillet.
Knowing the thief was under control, Jesse moved toward Hazel like a beacon. She was no longer on the ground. She stood maybe ten feet away. Her ponytail was shoved to the side of her head, and grass stains streaked her tank top, but she looked more stunned than scared.
“You okay?” he asked as he neared. She nodded and Jesse unconsciously pulled her into a hug.
Hazel leaned into his embrace, her head fitting perfectly under his chin, and Jesse held her for a few long breaths. With his arms still wrapped around her shoulders, Hazel eased back and looked him in the eye. He was close enough to count the freckles across her nose. He wanted to wipe the dirt smudge from her cheek.
Before he could move or speak, Hazel said, “Evan caught the horse.”
Jesse blinked and turned his head to see that his brother had ahold of the terrified colt. He’d snapped another lead to his halter and was removing the chain from his nose. Frankie had arrived with another horse to calm the colt’s nerves.
“I heard something moving behind the shed,” Hazel explained. “That guy took the horse out of the shed and was trying to leave with him through the woods.”
Jesse stared at Hazel like he was looking at her for the first time. “You jumped on that guy’s back.” He couldn’t believe she’d done that.
“First thing I thought of.” Hazel blinked up at him. “Mom always said if someone attacks you, poke them in the eye or kick ‘em where the sun don’t shine. I thought I had a better chance at his eyes.”
Jesse laughed, amazed at her bravery. “Good advice.” He might’ve underestimated Hazel. Seemed like she had some cowgirl in her blood after all.